The ME External Advisory Board (EAB) welcomed a new member in 2003: Robert M. Guezuraga, senior vice president of Medtronic, Inc. (MDT), and president of its Cardiac Surgery Business. Medtronic is the world's largest medical device company, providing solutions for those with chronic heart and vascular disease and neurological and spinal disorders. Guezuraga oversees all business functions relating to heart valves, surgical perfusion products, blood diagnosis and handling and emerging technologies in heart surgery. He joined the company in 1998 and is a member of the Medtronic Executive Committee and the Medtronic Pension Board.
Guezuraga earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1972 from Louisiana State University, is a Registered Professional Engineer and a graduate of General Electric Company's (GE) management program. He began his career with GE and spent 15 years in various business sectors in engineering and manufacturing. He holds several patents in the area of medical technology and serves as trustee for multiple public and private organizations.
Guezuraga joined the EAB after meeting with ME Department Chair and Professor Dennis Assanis about the role of mechanical engineers in the fast-growth area of medical devices. He brings to the EAB his diversity of experience in the medical field and perspective from a highgrowth market sector. He's looking forward to "serving on the advisory board and to attracting the best and brightest engineers to my field and to Medtronic."